Bomb threat causes Red Line delays

The Red Line was a disaster this morning, though fortunately not a literal one.  A bomb threat was made at the Rockville station by a woman who is now in custody (and is having her mental health evaluated).  Metro evacuated the station and trains were stopped between Shady Grove and Grosvenor.

The threat was made at 7:30 a.m., but the delays continued for several hours.  This prompted some passengers to walk down the track, as was captured by this twitter photo.

The station is now reopened, and no explosive device was found.

Cafe Atlantico has closed

We reported in May about Cafe Atlantico's closing, and the day has come.  Cafe Atlantico has closed.

Taking its place beginning July 4th will be a new restaurant called America Eats Tavern, also by Jose Andres.  The eatery will mirror an exhibit at the National Archives.  You can read more about it here.

Ten Penh is closing

The iconic restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, Ten Penh, is closing after eleven years of service.

The restaurant will be closing on June 30th; apparently they could not negotiate a deal with the building's landlord.

The press release from the group says "although much discussion is whirling around about a possible relocation, we would like to simply focus our energy and time on our independent ongoing ventures."

Chef Jeff Trunks, David Wizenberg, and Gus DiMillo, the owners of Ten Penh

5th and I development hits a roadblock

The area around 5th and Eye Streets could be a lot better.  There is vacant property, parking lots, and a lot of run down buildings, including a strip club.

One development group is trying to make it better, the Donohoe Company.  They originally had plans to redevelop this area with hotels, residences, and a jazz club.

That hasn't exactly come together, reports the Washington Business Journal.  The plan now is just for two hotels on a patch of property owned by D.C. at 5th and Eye.

There are many reasons it hasn't worked out.  The economy, of course is one.  The other is that people in that area are asking for very high prices to sell their property to the developer.  The area is also within the Mount Vernon Triangle Historic District (yes, even the strip club), which makes it difficult to make changes.

The proposal for the revitalization of this area is now three years old and D.C. may decide to rebid its lot to a more promising project.  We'll see.   It would certainly help the vitality of our neighborhood stretch north up to City Vista and beyond if it wasn't for this sore spot.

Zengo introduces new sugarcane-inspired tasting menu

For all of June, Zengo has introduced a new sugarcane-inspired tasting menu.   The menu is $35 per guest or $55 paired with sugarcane spirits.

You can check out the menu here.  It includes scallop tiradito, grilled flank steak lettuce wraps, sugarcane-skewered swordfish, and sugarcane butterscotch panna cotta.

Scaffolding is down at 9th and F

It has been up so long, it has basically become part of the neighborhood.  But it is gone now, the scaffolding that has been at 9th and F streets for months and months, adorned by "McCormick and Schmicks is Open" signs is finally down.

The Masonic Temple building is back and restored.  It looks lighter in color than it used to, though it's hard to remember what it even used to look like.

Today's Farmer's Market Specials

Today is Farmer's Market today and the Washington Post reports that it is strawberry season.

Sandhill Farm, Toigo Orchards, and Black Rock Orchard will all have strawberries this afternoon until the end of the farmer's market at 7:00 p.m.

This summer reload your SmartTrip card from home

We have often wondered about Metro's SmartTrip Cards and how they came up with the technology without giving people the ability to reload the card from home.

That is about to change.  Starting this summer, Metro will be rolling out a pilot program to load funds onto your SmartTrip card from the internet, according to DCist.

This is all before next year, when Metro is probably going to replace SmartCards with new technology, which they are already receiving bids for from outside vendors.

901 Restaurant in review

Inside 901 Restaurant

901 Restaurant has opened and is taking reservations; however, their official grand opening is not until Friday.  Tonight there is an invitation-only grand opening.

Penn Quarter insider tried it ahead of the grand opening to let you know if it's worth it.  Summary: it is.

901 Restaurant is a great place to meet someone for drinks.  The bar is large and open, and the menu consists of many smaller "sharing plates" that make for good bar bites.   Penn Quarter Insider tried the Thai Rice Paper Rolls.  Each sharing plate is supposed to feed four guests and the Thai Rice Paper Rolls came with four rolls.  They were stuffed with chicken, carrots, and greens and had two sauces on the side: peanut sauce with crushed peanuts and sweet ginger soy.  The sauces were delicious and the rolls did not disappoint.

The food is good, but not universally so.  The Hong Kong Grilled Chicken Salad, for example, came with great chicken, served warm on top of the salad, with whole pieces of citrus fruit.  The salad itself, however, was mostly filler and the dressing was mediocre.

The Sweet and Spicy Seared Tuna was served with a mango salsa.  The salad was greener, with real lettuce, but the tuna was smaller.  Although we expected it to be served rare  (we weren't asked how we would like it), it was somewhere a bit more well-done, but the fish was definitely of a high quality.

The service at 901 was excellent.  We were never left wanting for anything, and the wait staff could not have been nicer.  We wish all Penn Quarter restaurants had service on par with 901.  Same goes for the host staff.   As you walk up to the door from the sidewalk, someone scurries to open the door for you and welcome you to the restaurant.  Same thing happens on your way out, as they ask you how everything was. 

All in all, 901 is great.  It's comfortable and convenient.  It has a fun atmosphere, but is not so loud you have to strain to hear the other people at your table.  The menu is big and has many options, enough options that you can find something that is really good.  Not all of the food is out-of-this world amazing.  But it is all good, and there is a lot of variety. 

We will definitely be back.  Soon.

Union Station Metro entrance to close

Union Station from the air

WMATA will close the Union Station entrance to the metro at First Street N.W. at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday until Monday morning at 5:00 a.m.  The Massachusetts Ave entrance will remain open.

WMATA is doing work on the state manager's kiosk in the mezzanine area of the station.

901 Restaurant's Menu

We have received numerous requests for the menu at 901, which has not been posted online by the restaurant.  We finally have pictures of the dinner menu as well as the cocktails and beer menu.  You can check them out after the jump:

Photos from star-studded Ford's Theatre Gala

The Ford's Theatre Gala on June 5th included a number of celebrities gracing our neighborhood's streets.  We finally have some photos of the event to share with you:

Richard Dreyfuss on the Red Carpet. 
Photo by Reflections Photography, Washington, D.C.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi with husband Paul Pelosi. 
Photo by Reflections Photography, Washington, D.C.

Actress and author Julie Andrews.
Photo by Reflections Photography, Washington, D.C.



Honoree Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Photo by Reflections Photography, Washington, D.C.



Chinatown Coffee Company adds mobile payments

The first bricks-and-mortar shop in Washington, D.C. to institute a mobile app that allows customers to establish an ongoing tab is in Penn Quarter: Chinatown Coffee Company.

The mobile app, called Card Case from Square, provides an alternative to cash or credit cards.

 
The customer activates the app while inside the coffee shop and it verifies your location.  The barista then pulls up your tab on an iPad, charges your purchase, and ultimately your credit card is charged.  The receipt appears on your phone nearly instantly.   Pretty cool.